Ski teaching apparatus

ABSTRACT

The ski teaching apparatus has the following features: parallel tracks extending down the slope, a carriage on each track supporting an arm in turn supporting a crossbar extending across the slope for the skier to hold on to. Each carriage is connected to an endless cable running parallel to the track and driven from a control center beside the slope so as to control the movement of the supporting bar. The arm may be pivotally mounted on the carriage so that it can be adjusted to various radial positions to vary the height of the crossbar. A sleeve may be slidably mounted on the crossbar for the skier to grasp and facilitate his lateral movement along the bar.

United States Patent [72] lnventor Stanley Segal 5675 Cote St. Luc Road, Montreal, Quebec, Canada [211 App]. No. 761,962

[22] Filed Sept. 24, 1968 [45] Patented Jan. 19, 1971 [32] Priority Sept. 25, 1967 [33] Great Britain [3 l N0. 43442/67 [54] SKI TEACHING APPARATUS 56.5(SS), 4, 57; 35 29, 29.2; 104/(1nquired), e2, 87,173;198/(1nquired), 164,110

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,708,912 4/1929 Alexander 104/173 Primary Examiner-Harland S. Skogquist Attorney-Alan Swabey ABSTRACT: The ski teaching apparatus has the following features: parallel tracks extending down the slope, a carriage on each track supporting an arm in turn supporting a crossbar extending across the slope for the skier to hold on to. Each carriage is connected to an endless cable running parallel to the track and driven from a control center beside the slope so as to control the movement of the supporting bar. The arm may be pivotally mounted on the carriage so that it can be adjusted to various radial positions to vary the height of the crossbar. A sleeve may be slidably mounted on the crossbar for the skier to grasp and facilitate his lateral movement along the bar.

PATENTEDJAmmn 3.556521 INVENTOR Sunley SEGAL ATTORNEY i SKI TEACHING APPARATUS This invention relates to a ski teaching device.

In teaching a beginner downhill skiing, the big problem is to keep him on his feet long enough to instill into him the basic leg and body movements for managing his skis. The present invention resides in a device which the skier can hold on to, to keep himself upright while sliding downhill at a speed regulated by the device, under the control of the instructor. While thus supported the pupil is in a better position to be shown the necessary ski controlling movements.

In a broad sense, this device includes a handlebar which extends across a slope at an adjustable height preferably having a grip which can move freely along the bar in either direction.

The bar is connected to a mechanism at the side of the slope for controlling its movement down the slope at variable speeds. This variable speed drive or braking and control mechanism is controlled from one or more conveniently located stations one of which can be on a bar which extends across the slope so that an instructor can ski beside a student and operate the invention at the same time.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is a track, preferably elevated to keep it above the snow level, at each side of the slope, a carriage slidably mounted on each track and an endless cable mechanism for operating the carriage. The handlebar is mounted on brackets extending from the carriage. The cable is connected to the drive or braking mechanism and is controlled by control means under the influence of the instructor.

An example of the invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment and in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view showing an apparatus according to the invention installed on a snowcovered ski slope;

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross section partly in elevation along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective detailed view partly broken away to show one of the handlebar supporting carriages.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the device is made up of a conveying mechanism A at one side of the slope and a similar mechanism, A1, at the other side of the slope. Each conveying mechanism, A and AI, includes a track supported on a frame made up of uprights l7 and bracing members 19 securely installed in the ground. In this instance, the track is made up of flat planks having a central guiding rib 21.

A carriage 8 runs on the track and is connected at each end to an endless cable 23. The carriage has running wheels and top wheels 27. The latter engage a cover 29 which extends the length of the track. The cover serves as a guard to prevent the carriage from jumping the track as well as to protect the mechanism from snow. The cable runs around pulleys 31 at each end of the track.

On top of the carriage B is a sleeve 33 in which there is mounted a rod 35. On the inner end of the rod 35 there is an upwardly extending bar 37. The angle of the bar 37 to the vertical may be adjusted by adjusting a setscrew 39 in the sleeve 33. A handle bar C extends from the bar 37 at one side of the slope to the bar 37 at the other side. A grip in the form of a sleeve 30 is slidably mounted on the bar 37 for easy movement from side to side of the bar C.

A drive mechanism (not shown) is mounted in the housing D and a drive shaft 40 extends to the axle of the adjacent pulley 31 and may also extend across under the snow to the other pulley 31. A control mechanism (not shown) also in the housing D is under the control of the operator. The drive mechanism is reversible so that the carriages B, B, can be moved uphill to move the bar 37 uphill so that the device may also be used for uphill transportation, i.e. as a ski tow.

In operation, the handlebar C is at the top of the slope and is grasped by the skier as shown. The instructor starts the mechanism which causes the handle bar C to run downhill with the skier holdin onto it.

The speed of the ar may be adjusted and controlled and it may be stopped and started at will by the instructor through the control and drive mechanism in the housing D while the instructor gives the skier instructions.

It will be understood that, for convenience, the device has been shown compact. However, the conveyor mechanisms A and Al can be spread wider and the device can be of any desired length. It can also be varied in different ways to accommodate the particular requirements and modifications and embellishments may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

in further clarification of the detailed description it should be mentioned that a sidewall 28 is desirable beside each track in conjunction with the roof 29 to prevent snow falling on the track. Also, the control mechanism shown in the housing D includes speed control means, a stop switch, and electric or other motor means for driving the cable 23 through a suitable transmission.

A cable mechanism may also be provided for tensioning the cable. The shaft 40 may extend under the snow between the respective pulleys 31 at the respective sides of the slope with a cover 41 extending thereover.

lclaim:

l. A ski teaching apparatus for use on a slope comprising: an elongated bar extending substantially horizontally and transversely across the slope; a pair of spaced-apart means for supporting the ends of the elongated member at a height above the slope where it can be grasped by a skier; separate means for guiding each of said support means for movement up and down the slope; .and controllable drive means connected to the support means for moving the support means in unison along the separate guide means down the slope, whereby the rate of descent of a skier, uphill of the descending bar but supported thereby, can be controlled.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, including a sleeve member mounted on said bar, the sleeve member freely movable along the bar between the support means, whereby the skier, grasping the sleeve, can move laterally with respect to the bar while descending the slope.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, including means for varying the height of the bar above the slope.

4. An apparatus, as defined in claim 1, in which each guide means comprises a supporting rail running down the slope, and each support means includes a carriage running on the rail.

5. An apparatus, as defined in claim 4, in which the controllable drive means connected to the support means includes a flexible endless member connected to each carriage and running parallel to said supporting rail, and means acting on said flexible members forcontrolling their movement.

6. An apparatus, as defined in claim 4, in which each said carriage has a platform, a rod pivotally mounted on said platform, an arm extending upwardly from said rod, said bar being connected at its ends to said arms, and means for fixing the rods at various radial positions thereby to adjust the height of the bar above the slope.

7. An apparatus, as defined in claim 4, in which there is a roof member spaced above said rails and extending substantially parallel thereto, and each said carriage is provided with means for contact with the roof member to retain each carriage on its rail.

8. An apparatus, as defined in claim 4, in which each supporting rail is of inverted T-formation with a central flange and each carriage has pairs of spaced-apart wheels running on respective sides of the flange. 

1. A ski teaching apparatus for use on a slope comprising: an elongated bar extending substantially horizontally and transversely across the slope; a pair of spaced-apart means for supporting the ends of the elongated member at a height above the slope where it can be grasped by a skier; separate means for guiding each of said support means for movement up and down the slope; and controllable drive means connected to the support means for moving the support means in unison along the separate guide means down the slope, whereby the rate of descent of a skier, uphill of the descending bar but supported thereby, can be controlled.
 2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, including a sleeve member mounted on said bar, the sleeve member freely movable along the bar between the support means, whereby the skier, grasping the sleeve, can move laterally with respect to the bar while descending the slope.
 3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, including means for varying the height of the bar above the slope.
 4. An apparatus, as defined in claim 1, in which each guide means comprises a supporting rail running down the slope, and each support means includes a carriage running on the rail.
 5. An apparatus, as defined in claim 4, in which the controllable drive means connected to the support means includes a flexible endless member connected to each carriage and running parallel to said supporting rail, anD means acting on said flexible members for controlling their movement.
 6. An apparatus, as defined in claim 4, in which each said carriage has a platform, a rod pivotally mounted on said platform, an arm extending upwardly from said rod, said bar being connected at its ends to said arms, and means for fixing the rods at various radial positions thereby to adjust the height of the bar above the slope.
 7. An apparatus, as defined in claim 4, in which there is a roof member spaced above said rails and extending substantially parallel thereto, and each said carriage is provided with means for contact with the roof member to retain each carriage on its rail.
 8. An apparatus, as defined in claim 4, in which each supporting rail is of inverted T-formation with a central flange and each carriage has pairs of spaced-apart wheels running on respective sides of the flange. 